Wild Oats XI leads Sydney-Hobart race

SYDNEY — Favored supermaxi Wild Oats XI, winner of line honors in five of the past six years, held a lead of nine nautical miles over its nearest rival in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race after battling rough weather in its first night at sea.

The 100-foot Wild Oats XI led the 628 nautical mile race ahead of fellow maxi Investec Loyal with about 390 nautical miles still to go.